Artificial wombs and egg freezing: Reproductive technologies will not “solve” gender inequalities

The possibility of artificial womb technology (ectogenesis) is no longer hypothetical. Three years ago, scientists put a premature lamb fetus in an artificial womb and it was able to develop normally to term. Scientists and others today are working on developing an artificial womb for humans. There has been much discussion in the bioethics literature recently about whether ectogenesis would be empowering for women, freeing them from their traditional role as child-bearer and child-rearer. Indeed, some claim that the root of gender inequality is the fact that ciswomen experience pregnancy, whereas cismen do not. According to this argument, if pregnancy were no longer associated with a particular gender, then gender inequality would be eradicated. Yet I find it unlikely that new reproductive technologies alone will engender gender equality without significant social changes as well. In other words, if ectogenesis were to become the new normal for all pregnancies, this would not necessarily sever ties between women and traditional women’s work (e.g. childcare, housework, etc.). This is because women’s oppression is not based on just one obstacle but rather is a multifaceted interlocking system. Feminist philosopher Marilyn Frye uses the analogy of a birdcage to explain oppression, which I quote at length because she so adroitly explains why oppression is so difficult to recognize and to overcome: “If you look very closely at...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Tags: Gender Disparities Health Care Author: Campo-Engelstein feminist ethics Fertility reproductive medicine reproductive rights syndicated Women's Reproductive Rights Source Type: blogs